Trainer Ron Burke has had a stranglehold on Ohio’s sophomore pacing colt division this season and it was a two-horse Burke battle down the lane for the $201,389 Director Of Agriculture Pace to wrap up Ohio State Fair racing at Eldorado Scioto Downs.
Trevor Smith fired the 112-1 longshot House Of Brix after the early lead from post nine and led the bulky field of 11 past the opening quarter in :26.2. Swingtown (Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.) led the field past the half mile station in :54.4, but relinquished command to stablemate Rick Wink (Chris Page) before the three-quarters in 1:22.3.
As the field hit the top of the stretch, Swingtown was sent into the passing lane and got up in the final strides to score the nose victory over his stablemate in 1:49.2. Extra Suds (Aaron Merriman) was an impressive third, three lengths back, after being parked the entire mile. House Of Brix held on for fourth.
Swingtown established a new lifetime mark for the ownership group of Burke Racing Stable, Hatfield Stables, Knox Services and R A S Racing. The Downbytheseaside colt was bred by Steiner Stock Farm and has amassed $715,984 in lifetime earnings.
Sixteen horses were entered in the Governor’s Cup, forcing two $72,000 divisions of sophomore colt trotters.
Long Highway (Hugh Beatty) was the best by a scant nose in a four-way photo finish in the first division, edging Stud Muffin T (Trevor Smith), Scrappys Love (Dan Noble) and Battle Hill (Chris Lems) in 1:54.3.
Long Highway was bred by Midland Acres and co-owned by Frank James Cautela and John J. Sugar. Unraced at two, the son of Long Tom has now been on the board in eight of 11 seasonal starts.
Vekna (Kayne Kauffman) scored a minor upset in the second division at 8-1 with a one-length victory over Jet Wings (Aaron Merriman) and Hilltop Sonar (Chris Page) in 1:54.2. The Enterprise gelding is conditioned by Kayne Kauffman for his wife Natalie Kauffman, who picked this one from the Spring Haven Farm consignment as a yearling. He now has nine wins in 14 career starts.
The heavy favourite Lt Loverboy broke at the start for driver Brett Miller and was never a factor.
In the first division of the Buckeye State Pace for freshman colts, Pet Project (Trevor Smith) picked a good time to pick up his first win of his young career with a three-quarter length score over Sparks N Fire (Austin Hanners) in 1:52.2. The gelded son of Pet Rock is co-owned and co-bred by trainer Kimberly Dailey. She shares ownership with JR Stable.
The second $57,200 split was a convincing victory by the even money favourite, Lindy Dragonwater (Chris Page) in 1:52.2. The Downbytheseaside gelding was 1-3/4 lengths better than Simon Sez Go (Chris Lems) and Caillou Hanover (Dan Noble). Ron Burke trains the winner for Burke Racing Stable, Knox Services, Beasty and Brad Grant. Lindy Dragonwater has now won two straight against his Ohio-bred competitors.
Crocodile Station (Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.) dominated the final division with a 4-1/4 length score in 1:52.3. Odds On Sugar (Aaron Merriman) overcame an early break in stride to take second, Fire Run (Dan Noble) was third.
Crocodile Station was fourth in both of his first two career starts, the $202,000 Next Generation (July 5) and the opening leg of the Ohio Sire Stakes (July 13). Michael Hitchcock trains the Downbytheseaside gelding for William Hartt.
Eldorado Scioto Downs will return to action on Tuesday, Aug. 5 with a 14-race card. First post is 5:55 p.m.
(Scioto Downs)